Solo exhibition of Sandra Krastina “Mirage”

From 25 May to 21 July, Sandra Krastiņa’s solo exhibition MIRAGE will be on view at the NOASS art centre.

Mirage’ssubject incorporates the illusory nature of historical memory. Even our knowledge of comparatively recent events is mostly ostensible, incomplete or open to subjective interpretation as and when necessary. We live for today, where a well-furnished domestic environment is presented as the safest pass to a happy future.

The exhibition’s characters have taken shape using blurred photographs in which, for example, a man in a civilian suit holding a hat or a boy wearing boots that have clearly been borrowed pose for the photographer. After a while, the aster bouquets (the photographs were taken during the month of August) pinned to the infantryman’s clothing evolved on a completely different scale – as rocket explosions, which, among other things, tend to resemble the structure of colourful bunches of flowers. Viewers are prompted to think about the meaning and scale of the events back then and the comparisons we can draw from them in relation to the everyday existence we lead today as well as current affairs.

Sandra Krastiņa studied at the Art Academy of Latvia’s Department of Monumental Painting (1976–1982), in the masterclass of Professor Eduards Kalniņš (1982–1986). Subsequently, she worked as a teacher at Janis Rozentāls’ Art School. She was also the founder and director of the Artists’ Union of Latvia Museum (2001–2006) and Editor-in-Chief of “Neputns” publishing house’s magazine “Dizaina Studija” (2006–2012). She also works in graphics and animation, creating designs for coins in the Bank of Latvia’s collection. She has participated in exhibitions since 1980. She regularly organises solo exhibitions in Riga, elsewhere in Latvia, as well as abroad. In 2016, her solo show Civilianstook place at the LNMA ARSENĀLS Exhibition History. In 2017, in collaboration with actor Vilis Daudziņš, she held a solo show entitled #heroofthedayat the Latvian Academy of Culture’s Eduards Smiļģis Theatre Museum.
The artist’s works can be found in the collections of the Latvian National Museum of Art (Riga), the Museum Ludwig (Cologne, Germany), State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, Russia), the AUL Museum, as well as in private collections in Latvia and abroad.

Gallery open from: Wednesday to Saturday from 15:00 – 22:00.

Entrance free.

Exhibition is supported by: